Kathua villagers lock officials inside school to protest staff shortage

Kathua, July 4

Residents of the Kindli panchayat of the remote Macheddi tehsil in Kathua district on Thursday held a demonstration along with students and locked government officials inside High School, Nathi, to protest the shortage of teachers.

Protesters alleged that the school was upgraded in 2002 but the education department had failed to appoint the sanctioned staff till date. They raised slogans against the department.

“The school was upgraded in 2002 and posts were sanctioned at that time but still the government has not deployed staff here. Every year, we hold protests in favour of our demand but only assurances have been given to us,” said sarpanch Mukhtyar Ali.

He said the studies of students had been badly affected due to the staff shortage.

The tehsildar, naib tehsildar, principal of Higher Secondary School, Badnota, reached the spot to pacify the protesters, but they locked them in a room. They said they would free the officials only when their demands are met.

The talks between protesters and officials were on till the filing of this report. — OC